Istanbul Digital Art Festival

As digitalization permeates every aspect of contemporary life, the evolving relationship between society and emerging technologies continues to shape new cultural paradigms. Founded in 2020 by academic, digital communication specialist, and entrepreneur Dr. Nabat Garakhanova, the Istanbul Digital Art Festival was created to explore and showcase how technological transformation influences artistic practice and digital platforms. Organized by Mezo with the support of the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the festival aims to highlight technology driven artworks, enhance their visibility, and curate exhibitions that respond to the shifting needs of the art world, ultimately establishing Türkiye’s, and Istanbul’s, first continuous festival dedicated exclusively to digital art.

Each year, a newly appointed team of curators defines the festival’s conceptual framework and selects its participants. Across the city, various historic venues host works positioned at the intersection of science, art, and technology, with a strong focus on emerging artists.

The inaugural edition was planned for 2020 but canceled due to the pandemic. Instead, the festival held its first physical exhibition at the Binbirdirek Cistern in 2021. The second edition, curated entirely by an AI system, took place at Fişekhane from June 3–12, 2022.

From 2023 onward, the festival has grown and evolved at the Atatürk Cultural Center (AKM), solidifying its presence in the heart of Istanbul’s cultural life. The third edition was presented there in June 2023. The following year, the fourth edition preview was in Milan in March 2024 and continued with its main program in Istanbul in May. In 2025, the festival offered a preview in Paris from June 17–20 before its main events returned to Istanbul from June 11–15.

Strengthened by this momentum, the festival is now actively preparing for its 2026 edition, building on its expanding international network and its growing role in shaping the future of digital art.